49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson burned, then benched

Updated 6:50 pm, Sunday, December 10, 2017

HOUSTON — Dontae Johnson was burned so often Sunday that he got benched.

In a 26-16 win over the Texans, the 49ers’ cornerback struggled to keep up with Pro Bowl wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who had 11 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

After Hopkins beat Johnson and safety Adrian Colbert for a 29-yard score early in the third quarter, Johnson slammed his helmet to the ground and stood alone on the bench. On the next series, he was replaced by undrafted rookie Greg Mabin.

“I’ll chalk this one down as a performance that I would like to give back and redo it again,” Johnson said.

Johnson was called for three penalties (one holding and two pass interference) while covering Hopkins, who had 10 catches for 144 yards and his two scores before Johnson was replaced by Mabin. Johnson returned to the game late in the fourth quarter when rookie cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon exited with a knee injury that will require an MRI exam Monday.

“A few of the calls I thought were a little questionable,” Johnson said. “But at the same time, you’ve just got to compete. He won the one-on-one matchup. Great player.”

Said head coach Kyle Shanahan of Johnson’s performance: “He started out with an early (pass interference) on him. Once you get a PI, you have to stay off him a little bit. Then you just get a little bit out of whack.”

Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a catch in front of 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson, one of his 11 on the day.

Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) makes a catch in front of 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson, one of his 11 on the day.

Photo: Michael Wyke, Associated Press

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Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) catches a pass over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) less

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) catches a pass over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Houston. (AP ... more

Photo: Michael Wyke, Associated Press

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Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) pull is a pass for a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith) less

Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) pull is a pass for a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 10, ... more

Photo: Eric Christian Smith, Associated Press

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HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans catches a touchdown pass defended by Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX *** less

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 10: DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Houston Texans catches a touchdown pass defended by Dontae Johnson #36 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 ... more

Photo: Bob Levey

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49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson burned, then benched

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Tough task: Right tackle Trent Brown was inactive because of a shoulder injury and was replaced by Zane Beadles, 31, an eight-year veteran who has played primarily guard during his career.

Beadles, who hadn’t started sine he was replaced by left guard Laken Tomlinson after the season opener, said the Texans routinely lined up Clowney against him.

“I don’t know if that was part of their game plan, but there were a lot of third-down situations,” Beadles said. “Had to go battle.”

Clowney finished with six tackles, two for losses, and four quarterback hits.

“There are a few plays you want back, but that’s any game,” Beadles said. “Overall, I think it went well.”

Nightmare scene: Shanahan returned to NRG Stadium for the first time since he was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator in Atlanta’s 34-28 overtime loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI in February.

Shanahan received intense criticism for his late-game play-calling in a game in which the Falcons squandered a 28-3 lead.

Shanahan said he didn’t think about returning to the stadium until he and running backs coach Bobby Turner, who was also on Atlanta’s staff last season, walked across the field after the team arrived Sunday morning.

“I got some feelings of that,” Shanahan said. “Had some real good feelings in that game, not toward the end. Feelings today were much better at the end.”